HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES ADVISORY

Monroe County, FL—The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe) has received laboratory confirmation of a case of dengue virus infection. All indications are that this infection was locally acquired. This individual has received medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

DOH-Monroe and Florida Keys Mosquito Control District are working closely to continue surveillance and prevention efforts. Florida Keys Mosquito Control District is assisting with the investigation and has intensified its mosquito control activities.

There are no other confirmed cases at this time. DOH-Monroe and the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection are currently conducting surveillance to identify any additional cases.

Dengue can present as a severe flu-like illness with severe muscle aches and pain, fever and sometimes a rash. Usually, there are no respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of dengue will appear within ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Dengue fever is not contagious but is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The emergence of this dengue case reinforces the importance for the public to prevent insect bites and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure. These measures include in-tact window screens and the use of air conditioning, keeping the area around your residence free from containers that collect water, wearing protective clothing and the appropriate use of insect repellents.

For more information, visit www.floridahealth.gov/dengue or www.keysmosquito.org.

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